Politics

ATLANTA -- Georgia's Student Advisory Council is now accepting applications for the 2012-13 school year.

The Student Advisory Council reports to State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge to discuss how decisions made at the state level affect students throughout Georgia, according to Georgia Department of Education spokesman Matt Cardoza.

The council will meet twice during the school year -- Wednesday, Nov. 7 and Wednesday, Mar. 6. Applicants must be available to meet on both days.

All Georgia students in grades 9-12 are encouraged to apply.

"I am looking forward to getting to know a new group of student advisors and discuss how our policies affect them on a daily basis," Barge said in a statement. "We want to make education work for all Georgia's students and hearing directly from them is the best way to ensure that happens."

ATLANTA -- Jud Turner has been appointed director of the Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

The DNR board made the appointment official this week after Gov. Nathan Deal nominated Turner for the post.

Turner replaces F. Allen Barnes, who is leaving to work in the private sector.

Turner is a founding partner in the law firm Turner, Bachman & Garrett LLC and public affairs firm Georgia360 LLC. He was former Gov. Sonny Perdue's lead attorney and represented the governor during negotiations with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service during the state's severe drought.

Turner has also served as general counsel to the Georgia Department of Education.

ATLANTA -- Voters in two cities and six counties in Metro Atlanta will decide Tuesday whether to renew a one-cent sales tax for school construction.

The education SPLOST is a one-cent special purpose local option sales tax that was first approved by voters in Atlanta, Decatur and Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cherokee, Douglas and Henry counties in 1997.

On Tuesday, Nov. 8, voters will be asked to continue that tax with SPLOST IV.

In DeKalb County, the renewal of ESPLOST would generate $475 million for dozens of capital projects, including new buildings, new roofs, air-conditioning systems, even smart boards in every classroom.

DULUTH, Ga. -- Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich is set to speak at a Republican presidential forum in Gwinnett County.

The former House Speaker will address the 7th congressional district GOP in Duluth Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Seventh District GOP Chairman Jason Thompson said the open, town hall-style format will provide Georgians "an up-close and personal opportunity to meet and hear candidates in person, instead of just on television."

Thompson said the group has invited all Republican primary presidential candidates to come for individual sessions before the group and is hopeful more will choose to attend.

Gingrich, a former congressman from Georgia, is trailing frontrunners Mitt Romney, Herman Cain and Rick Perry in public opinion polls.

TUCKER, Ga. -- State Senator Curt Thompson (D-Tucker) has sent a letter to Governor Nathan Deal asking him to veto one House bill and one Senate bill that alter the districts of the Gwinnett County Commission and Board of Education.

In the letter, Sen. Thompson tells the governor that HB 31EX, which changes the voting district for the school board, and SB 7EX, which changes the voting district for the county commission, are both in violation of the Voting Rights Act.

Specifically, Sen. Thompson writes, the House bill dilutes African American voting power for the sole purpose of maintaining Republican incumbents, especially in the southern portion of Gwinnett County.

ATLANTA -- Seven people have been appointed to a newly created board to look into complaints about state and local officials failing to comply with state laws related to immigration.

The Immigration Enforcement Review Board was created by the state's tough new law targeting illegal immigration.

Appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal are Americans for Immigration Control spokesman Phil Kent, former Fulton County GOP chairman Shawn Hanley and lawyer Ben Vinson. Appointed by Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle are Dallas Mayor Boyd Austin and Coweta County Sheriff Mike Yeager. Appointed by House Speaker David Ralston are lawyer Robert Mumford and Colquitt County Commissioner Terry Clark.

The board will have the power to investigate complaints, hold hearings, subpoena documents and witnesses, and take disciplinary action.